Coldest Night of the Year 2021 – February 20
Our Place Society and Pacific Centre Family Services Association are inviting you to join thousands of people across Canada for Coldest Night of the Year, a campaign to raise funds and awareness around issues of poverty and homelessness.
Join us (virtually) on the afternoon or evening of Saturday, February 20 (or any time that week) to take a healthy winter walk – socially distanced- in support of those struggling with poverty and homelessness.
We will be providing contest prizes to those of you who:
- Post the best pictures and videos of your walk
- Post the best pictures and videos of signage you create promoting the walk
- Post the best foot shots (pics of the shoes you are wearing on your walk)
- Individual Walkers who raise over $250 will have their name put in a draw to win a $100 Spa Gift Card
Please take a big step for those in need. Sign up at
https://cnoy.org/location/victoriapandora or https://cnoy.org/location/victoriawestshore
Habitat for Humanity Meaning of Home Writing Contest – January 4 to February 19
Over the past year, our homes have transformed into offices, schools and, for the lucky few, places of refuge. This year more than ever, Habitat for Humanity Victoria wants to know, what does home mean to you? The annual Meaning of Home writing contest that encourages students in grades 4, 5 and 6 to share what home means to them through a poem or short essay is back and open for submissions at meaningofhome.ca. The contest runs from January 4 to February 19, 2021, and awards more than $180,000 in grants through grand prize winners from each grade, along with nine runners-up.
Winter Go By Bike Day – February 12
Registration is now open for Winter Go By Bike Day! This annual international event celebrates year-round bike riding. The bicycle has become an extremely popular tool for exercise, transportation, and maintaining mental health during the pandemic. With our recent streak of good winter weather now is the perfect time to join Greater Victoria’s cycling community.
Whether you’re riding to work, to school, the store, or to take a break from working from home, you can register for free at www.GoByBikeBC.ca. Log rides easily on February 12th to be eligible to win prizes just by riding your bike: bike locks, helmets, lights, gift cards, and more!
In place of our usual in-person event at Janion Plaza we will instead be hosting a webinar covering Winter Cycling Tips. Register for free to learn how to stay safe and comfortable on the bike in any weather. February 12th, from 12-1pm. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1074218874776279309
Dine Around & Stay in Town Victoria – January 14 – February 7
Easily one of Victoria’s most anticipated culinary events, Dine Around & Stay in Town Victoria gives locals and visitors alike the chance to indulge in some of the destination’s finest restaurant offerings by choosing from a $20, $30, $40, $50 or $60 set menu.
If you opt for the drink pairing, consider making a night of it at one of the participating hotels offering a special rate. Whether you’re looking for something budget-friendly, or luxurious, you’ll find an array of options available.
Enjoy 24 days of culinary bliss from over 50 participating restaurants that have thoughtfully paired their Dine Around menus with wine and beer from BC VQA Wineries and B.C.’s finest craft breweries.
If you’re a serious foodie, you’ll want to take an advance peek at the menus and plan to try as many of Victoria’s top spots as possible over the 24 days from January 14th through February 7th, 2021. Visit Dine Around & Stay in Town Victoria to plan your visit!
Vancouver Island Soccer League 2021 Season
We have been in existence since 1895, providing an opportunity for organized, structured soccer for all adult men. Our categories; Competitive, Recreational, Masters and U21.
Feel free to follow us along on any or all of our social media paths; we love to include the communities in which our members live.
Gameday tweets, interesting news, and league updates:
Executive Director Vince Greco; @vincenzo25
League highlights and shares; @VISLinfo
League Instagram; vancouver_island_soccer_league
Facebook; Vancouver Island Soccer League
We hope you enjoy exploring our website, make sure to come back for updates; visl.org
Oh and be sure to support our tremendous League Sponsors, a full listing under the first home tab on the website.
TC10K Virtual Run – April 16-25, 2021
The 2021 Virtual TC10K takes place from April 16 and April 25, 2021, giving you lots of time to complete your virtual run/walk. When you register, you choose your distance – 10K, 5K or Thrifty Foods Family Run. You also have the option to receive your package by mail (*additional mailing cost) or pick it up at our race package pickup on April 16 & 17 (*in accordance with COVID-19 protocols). You complete your distance between April 16 and April 25, 2021. Post your results using the ASICS Runkeeper™ app or your favourite running app to be eligible for fun prizes. Register here.
SMC Club – February schedule
This February in SMC Club will see a variety of topics presented. We start the month with learning about the new Clubhouse app with Blair Venable Kaplan. This app has quickly become the most talked-about social media platform of 2021! This will be followed by Social Media Basics Every Business Owner Should Know with Monika Taylor. We will finish off the month with an in-depth discussion about Meaningful Communications and Working with Indigenous Communities presented by Nazaneen Lauriault of 50th Parallel Public Relations. SMC Club offers two webinars and a Q&A Campfire Story monthly as well as a Facebook Group. More info at socialmediacamp.ca.
Victoria Symphony presents Shostakovich Chamber Symphony – February 4 – March 5
An orchestral arrangement of Shostakovich’s eighth string quartet, the Chamber Symphony in C minor, is regarded as one of the most powerful works written in the 20th century. Confessional and elegiac, the five movements of this work communicate an enigmatic and tragic mood that stand in stark contrast to Marcus Goddard’s celebratory and virtuosic Trumpet Concerto written for VS principal trumpet Ryan Cole. This FREE concert premieres on February 4 @ 7:30 pm at www.victoriasymphony.ca and is available until March 5, 2021.
Chance To Win Big! 50/50 Raffle In Support of Local Hospitals
You can help support our local hospitals and have a chance to win big by purchasing tickets for the Victoria Hospital Foundation’s 50/50 raffle! Half the total jackpot goes to the winner and the other half supports VHF’s It’s Critical campaign to expand capacity at Royal Jubilee Hospital with a new permanent critical care unit.
The Victoria Hospitals Foundation is a charity that helps your donations make a difference in several of our local hospitals, and they need our community’s support.
Ticket prices start at just $10 and can be purchased online at VHF5050.ca. Ticket sales end at midnight on February 28 and the draw will occur on March 2.
Contest rules available at VHF5050.ca. Chances are 1 in 75,000 to win the 50/50 prize. BC Gaming Event Licence # 126991. Know your limit, play within it. 19+ to play. www.bcresponsiblegambling.ca
Victoria Symphony Beethoven’s Triple Concerto – February 18 @ 7:30 pm
Composed around the same time as his Eroica Symphony, Beethoven’s rarely heard Triple Concerto is often overshadowed by the composer’s more serious work. Scored uniquely for an orchestra and a trio of soloists (violin, cello, and piano), the three movements of this concerto are delightful proof that he was as adept at being charming as he was at being dramatic. Premiering February 18 @ 7:30 at www.victoriasymphony.ca, this concert is available online until March 19, 2021.
Belfry Theatre – Being Here: The Refugee Project – March 16-21
The Belfry launches its Spring Season with the premiere of Being Here – The Refugee Project – a powerful verbatim play (documentary theatre) about refugees coming to Canada.
The play will be streaming from March 16 – 21.
From Victoria to Halifax, playwright / journalist Joel Bernbaum spent hundreds of hours interviewing refugees and their sponsors asking them to share their experiences in their own words.
The refugees shared stories of their remarkable escapes and their reasons for escaping. Their sponsors, flush with good intentions—and come face-to-face with the complexity of human nature.
Triumphs, disappointments and the delicate balance between ideals and reality—these are real life stories—in the words and voices of real people.
In 2014, the Belfry produced Home is A Beautiful Word, a verbatim play about homelessness in our city – it was a profound experience for all.
To purchase the live stream, please visit tickets.belfry.bc.ca
Greater Victoria Flower Count – March 3-10
Take a mental health break and stop and count the flowers during this year’s Greater Victoria Flower Count March 3 – March 10th.
The 46th Greater Victoria Flower Count is an annual light-hearted promotion to bolster community pride and increase awareness of Greater Victoria as an incredible place to work, live and play.
This year is a little unique. Our goal in 2021 is to spread spring cheer to the residents of Greater Victoria and encourage them to stop and count the flowers while safely out in their communities. Flower Count this year will also serve to share a virtual bouquet with the rest of Canada during this challenging time and remind them that spring is coming soon and with it a season of rejuvenation. Submit your count here: https://flowercount.com/.
Victoria Symphony French Winds – March 4 – April 2
This program of charming French music for winds begins with Dukas’ Fanfare from his ballet La Péri followed by Gounod’s sparkling and vibrant Petite Symphonie, and ending with Poulenc’s neoclassical Suite Française written as incidental music for Edouard Bourdet’s play La Reine Margot. Premiering March 4 @ 7:30 at www.victoriasymphony.ca, this concert is available online until April 2, 2021.
